More than 64,0000 people died from an opioid overdose in 2017 in a continued upward trend. The rate has nearly doubled in just 10 years.

What are opioids? What’s fueling this opioid epidemic? Is it happening where I live? Am I at risk?

You probably have a lot of questions.

Let’s explore the answers.

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are a specific class of painkillers. This drug class includes illegal drugs like heroin. But it also includes painkillers that can be obtained legally like:

Fentanyl

Oxycodone (Oxycotin)

Codeine

Morphine

Hydrocodone (Vicodin)

These drugs interact with the opioid receptors in the brain, causing feelings of relaxation and/or euphoria. This is in addition to their intended purpose of relieving pain.

Are Opioids Inherently Dangerous?

Everyone’s talking about the opioid crisis these days for good reason. When taken as directed, prescribed opioids can be effective at masking symptoms. But they have many side effects like:

Constipation

Difficulty thinking

Shallow breathing

Sedation

On top of this, taking them as directed isn’t as easy as pharmaceutical companies would like us to believe. These drugs are highly addictive.

People who were on them temporarily may become dependent. A dependent person “feels” like they need it even after they have healed.

This dependence eventually becomes a full-blown addiction.

What may start as genuine pain relief often leads to drug-seeking. Eventually, people purchase on the black market to feed a growing addiction.

People who start out on prescription opioids may turn to heroin when their prescription runs out to get a similar “high” for less money. Around 60% of opioid deaths are not caused by the prescription opioids themselves.

But they often started with people legitimately seeking pain relief.

What’s Feeding the Crisis?

There’s a lot of blame to throw around. Some people blame the doctors who prescribe them. Others the pharmaceutical companies that develop them. And yet others blame the insurers.

The largest issue is the fact that doctors are prescribing these medications to their patients when there are much safer options to relieve pain.

A patient comes in with lower back pain. Instead of discussing how to actually stop the source of the pain, the patient is sent home with a prescription.

Where Is the Opioid Epidemic?

The opioid epidemic isn’t isolated to prominent cities like New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago. It’s all over. You’ll find “hot spots” in states across the nation like New Mexico, West Virginia, Florida and Maine.

Opioids can be found in both the suburbs and the city. They’re found in rural communities and small towns alike.

For teens, the opioid death rate rose 19% between 2010 and 2015. Preventing the flow of drugs into schools has been a high priority over last few years.

You Can Help

The opioid epidemic is growing. But people like you can make a difference.

If you’re using these medications or seeking pain relief, know that there are better and safer choices.

Prescription Painkiller Abuse

During National Chiropractic Health Month, we’re taking a look at the public health crisis caused by pain, and in particular the overuse of prescription painkillers. Prescription drug abuse is the number one cause of death in 17 U.S. states, surpassing motor vehicle accidents.

Numerous recent studies have shown the dangerous over reliance in the United States on prescription painkillers. Did you know that although Americans only make up 4.5% of the world’s population, they consume 80% of the world’s opioid supply? That means of all of the prescription painkillers in the world; Americans consume 80% of them! Over the last 20 years, there has been a 10-fold increase in the use of prescription painkillers. The United States is experiencing a national crisis – painkiller dependency, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared an “epidemic.”

During 2013 alone, drug overdoses accounted for almost 44,000 deaths in the United States, an increase of 6% from 2012. So what’s going on? Why does the United States have such a problem with prescription painkillers?

Well, for one, it’s never been easier to get a prescription for drugs. Studies have shown that 48% of Americans have used at least one prescription drug in the last 30 days. Even more shocking – 1 in 10 Americans admit to having used at least 5 prescription drugs in the last 30 days. This can multiply the risk for drug-related health issues exponentially.

“We know that the number of adverse drug events a patient is likely to experience increases as the number of medications they are taking increases,” says Anne Burns, Senior Vice President for Professional affairs at the American Pharmacists Association. “You’ve got everything from potential interactions between medications to timing issues, taking a variety of medications throughout the day.”

This shows that not only are many Americans using prescription drugs, but also they’re overusing them in dangerous combinations.

Another reason that painkillers are so readily available for many people is the lack of attention by many medical professionals. Although this prescription drug problem exists, many Doctors are still willing to give patients prescriptions, even if they aren’t necessary. A common trend that exists among opiate drug users is that they will experience an injury or an accident that will require prescription painkillers. But, rather than using painkillers as a temporary way to manage the pain, they become dependent on them. The fact is – most painkillers have very addictive properties.

Pain Treatment without Medications

Although there may be times that a prescription drug may be needed, painkillers do not treat the condition, they only mask the pain. So, with approximately 10 million Americans suffer with chronic, persistent or disabling pain, what’s the solution? Many conditions, such as chronic back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and neuropathy, can be treated without drugs and the side effects of taking prescription painkillers.

At the Davis Clinic of Chiropractic in The Villages, Florida, we provide an alternative to drugs and invasive procedures. Our treatment for chronic pain conditions doesn’t mask the pain, it treats it. We have helped thousands of patients find relief from back pain, neck pain, knee pain and the numbness and debilitating symptoms of neuropathy, and we can help you relieve your chronic pain once and for all.

Break the cycle of addictive, harmful medications. Give us a call today at (352) 430-2121 to see how we can help you lead a pain free life!

What Could Be Causing Your Hearing Loss

Did you know that over half of all Americans experience some level of hearing loss by the time they’re 60? Diseases like tinnitus and adult-onset hearing loss is one of the most common diseases among adults over the age of 60. It seems like hearing loss is almost inevitable. But what if I told you there was a way to dramatically reduce your risk of developing hearing loss? And, it’s something you probably wouldn’t have guessed.

Pain Killers Increase Risk of Hearing Loss

The risk of developing hearing diseases increases in individuals who regularly take painkillers. This is especially true for women. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts studied over 60,000 women for 14 years and compared the frequency of their pain reliever use, compared to their risk of hearing loss, and the results were staggering.

The Study

The study showed that of the 60,000 women in the study, over 10,000 of them developed hearing loss by the end of the 14 years. Also, women who took a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen at least two days a week had a 13% greater chance of developing hearing problems. It doesn’t stop there – women who took painkillers more than six times a week were 24% more likely to lose hearing.

“Pain relievers like ibuprofen can reduce blood flow to the cochlea (the part of the inner ear that helps you hear), which could impair it’s function” says Sharon Curhan, lead study and MD of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Acetaminophen could also deplete structures in the ear that protect the cochlea.”

How to Reduce your Chances of Hearing Loss

So what does this mean for us? Do we have to live with the chronic back pain and headaches or risk losing our hearing? Not necessarily. In this study, researchers studied the effects of ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin. While ibuprofen and acetaminophen greatly increased the chances of hearing problems, aspirin didn’t show an increased risk in hearing loss.

Although aspirin didn’t prove to be as damaging to your hearing as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, that doesn’t necessarily mean aspirin doesn’t come with its share of harmful side effects, including:

Upset Stomach

Heartburn

dizziness

Groggy and Numb Feelings

Painkiller dependency

Risk of Addiction

Put Away the Pain Killers

Although pain killers temporarily mask the pain, they do nothing to treat it. With the possible side effects of pain killers, including hearing loss, they can do more harm than good.

Instead of turning to pain killers for the temporary pain relief of chronic pain, there are drug free treatments available. The Villages Chiropractor, Davis Clinic of Chiropractic,
offers safe, effective treatments for the relief of back pain, neck pain, neuropathy, and knee pain without harmful drugs or invasive procedures.

If you’ve been popping pain killers to relieve your pain, it’s time to pitch the pills. Give Davis Clinic of Chiropractic a call today at (352) 430-2121 to learn more about our drug-free treatments.

We’ve seen patients come in to our office who have had neck or back pain for months, sometimes even years. For one reason or another, they have simply put off seeking medical attention and have just dealt with the pain day to day, limited their activity, and have noticed a diminished quality of life.

When we asked one patient why she put off seeking help, she responded:

“At first it wasn’t that bad, it was more of a discomfort that I was able to ignore most days. As the days turned into weeks and then months, I gradually noticed a little more pain, especially if I overdid it that day. So, instead of getting help, I made sure to stop my activities when I noticed the pain or I would take breaks throughout the day. I was afraid of getting treatment, so I decided to just deal with it. Eventually I got to the point where I was barely living. I stopped my weekly walks with friends because it would aggravate my back, I had my husband do the grocery shopping for me, and I even stopped picking up my grandkids when they came to visit. I got to the point where I didn’t want to do anything because I was in pain. This was not what I imagined my life to be like. We moved to The Villages after retirement because we wanted to be able to enjoy life, however, I was no longer enjoying my life… I was missing out on it! I finally decided that I needed help – that there had to be something I could do. I was no longer afraid of getting treatment, I was more afraid of being in pain the rest of my life!”

Yes, neck and back pain treatment can be scary! Medications can be addictive, steroid injections can hurt, and surgery can have complications and takes months to recover from. And, if you’ve never been treated by a chiropractor, it can probably seem like an intimidating process. When it comes to chiropractic care, many people are not sure what to expect. But, if you’re experiencing chronic pain, chances are, you will greatly benefit from seeking chiropractic care. For those of you that have never been to a chiropractor, you might have some questions about the process. Hopefully, this article will help to answer some of these questions:

“I’m not sure what to Expect from Chiropractic Care.”

Don’t worry about seeing a chiropractor; chiropractic treatment is one of the safest options available for the treatment of back pain and neck pain ! Each day, over one million people in the United States are treated by a chiropractor for the relief of pain caused by an auto accident, herniated or degenerative discs , sciatica, facet syndrome, a slip and fall, or from wear and tear.If you’re not sure what to expect, here is what will usually happen at your first chiropractic visit:

1. Your doctor will get a feel for your medical and family history; along with talking about some of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing, and preexisting medical conditions, injuries, etc.

3. After your doctor has evaluated your conditions, he will diagnose your problems and recommend treatment.

“Aren’t Chiropractor’s Expensive?”

The cost of chiropractic treatments such as spinal decompression are normally less than what you would spend seeking alternative healthcare options, such as surgery, epidurals, and expensive medications. Chiropractic treatment is a low-cost alternative to treating a wide variety of health conditions.

Plus, if you’ve been experiencing chronic pain, isn’t it worth it to not have to deal with the pain anymore? You can’t put a price on your pain relief!

“Is a Chiropractor Really Necessary?”

If you have ever experienced chronic back or neck pain, you know that it doesn’t go away on it’s own. You have probably tried treating it with painkillers, exercising, stretching, and even ignoring it. But your pain keeps coming back.

The longer you put off managing the pain, the worse it will get. In most situations, Doctors have found that in severe cases, diagnosing the problem earlier would have made all the difference in the world. In the beginning, most conditions start out as mild annoyances, and only get worse and worse until it is too late. The longer you wait, the worse your pain will get.

Non-Surgical Pain Treatment in The Villages, Florida

So what is keeping you from seeking treatment for the pain you’ve been experiencing? Over the past decade, Dr. Jason Davis of the Davis Clinic of Chiropractic in The Villages, Florida has successfully treated the pain of thousands of patients without surgery or pain medications. Now, you don’t have a reason to put up with the pain for another day. Give the Davis Clinic of Chiropractic a call today at (352) 430-2121.

Does Lyrica Help Neuropathy Pain?

You may have recently seen TV commercials promoting the drug Lyrica as being helpful for treating the pain of neuropathy. Of course, it would be nice to take a pill and have the tingling, burning, and numbness of neuropathy just go away. The problem is, all medicines come with a set of side effects. Some of these side effects, such as dry mouth, are not too serious, but others, such as suicidal thoughts, can be.

Lyrica Side Effects

Here, according to the FDA is a list of some of the most serious side effects for Lyrica:

• Serious, even life-threatening, allergic reactions

• Suicidal thoughts or actions

• Swelling of your hands, legs and feet

• Dizziness and sleepiness

Alternative to Taking Lyrica for Neuropathy

Not everyone reacts the same way, but what you really want to find is a drug free, surgery free, pain-free method to eliminate the symptoms of neuropathy. Such a system exists, and is available here in Central Florida at the Davis Clinic of Chiropractic in The Villages, FL.

Before starting a powerful drug like Lyrica to help ease the discomfort of peripheral neuropathy, talk to your doctor about possible side effects, then talk to Dr Jason Davis at the Davis Clinic of Chiropractic about the drug free, surgery free treatment that’s given relief to thousands of neuropathy sufferers across the nation with no side effects at all.

Steroid Injections, Pain Medications, and Anti-inflammatories Are Not the Solution for Back Pain!

Do Steroid Injections Relieve Back Pain?

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is seriously wrong!

Pain medications and invasive treatments such as epidurals may provide only temporary relief, and studies show some steroid injections may be no more effective than saline injections.

The concern about the continued use of pain medications, anti-inflammatories and spinal injections is that these simply mask the pain. Without pain, the patient may continue to perform certain activities or movements that could cause damage to the injured area. The injured area could experience significant degeneration from repetitive injury and from the continued use of steroids.

Are Epidural Steroid Injections & Pain Medications Safe?

According to one school of thought, if you continue to exercise a joint that is not moving correctly, it may accelerate degeneration of the injured joint by up to 30%.

Prolonged use of pain medications requires stronger doses over time and increases the risk of dependency and addiction. Prescriptions and over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, or Ibuprofen can result in liver, kidney and gastrointestinal damage, fatigue, depression and other severe side-effects.

Davis Clinic of Chiropractic offers treatment alternatives to steroid injections, anti-inflammatories, and pain medications. Attend one of our FREE seminars to find out how our neck pain and back pain treatments can relieve pain without invasive procedures or harmful medications.

The information contained within this website should not be considered medical advice. Any information contained herein is for informational purposes only. If you have an emergency, call 911.Website by HD Marketing & Design